๐๐จ๐๐จ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ญ๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ก๐ข, ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ง ๐๐จ๐ง๐ -๐๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ
A renewed call for action on long-pending commitments under the 2020 Bodo Accord dominated a three-hour sit-in at Jantar Mantar on November 21, as organisations warned that the agreementโs โlegitimacy comes into questionโ if key provisions continue to stall.
The All Bodo Students Union (ABSU), the United Boro People Organisation (UBPO) and the Ex-NDFB Welfare Association (ENWA) led the demonstration, following a national-level seminar held yesterday at the Constitution Club with representatives from 10 Sixth Schedule councils across the Northeast.
The organisations urged the Centre and the Assam government to complete implementation of the accord โin letter and spiritโ and highlighted the following priority points:
- Immediate passage of the 125th Amendment Bill to revise Article 280 and the Sixth Schedule for enhanced financial powers and direct central funding to BTC.
- Expansion of BTC constituencies to 60 seats without reducing existing tribal reservations.
- Transfer of additional subjects promised under Annexure-I of the accord to strengthen legislative and executive authority.
- Creation of Village and Municipal Councils in BTR with constitutional backing.
- ST (Hill) status for Bodo-Kachari people in Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao.
- Full-fledged status for the Boro Kachari Welfare Autonomous Council, including completion of village notifications and elections.
- Provincialisation of schools and colleges in BTR and Bodo-medium institutions outside it.
- Settlement of land rights under the Forest Rights Act for tribal communities in several districts.
- Withdrawal of pending cases against former NDFB members and release of those still imprisoned, along with ex-gratia for families of those killed.
- Major infrastructure commitments, including a central university named after Upendra Nath Brahma, a regional campus of Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, medical and technical institutes, national-level sports facilities, Navodaya Vidyalayas and a highway named after Banasur.
